Also, today would have been the birthday of 3-time World Tag Team Champion Lance Cade (33), & WWE Hall of Famer Mike Von Erich (49)

In Memoriam

Two years ago today, the wrestling world lost 5-time AJPW All Asia Tag Team Champion Doug Furnas aged 52. Furnas began his sporting life in American football, even making the Denver Broncos training camp, but was cut before the season began. He moved into powerlifting, where he made a name for himself, becoming the first man to total 2,400 pounds at two separate meets. At last check, he still held several national collegiate records for his weight class. He made his pro wrestling debut in 1986, appearing as a guest at a CWC show, protecting promoter Bob Polk from an attack by Kevin Sullivan. He remained an active member of the CWC roster until it folded in 1989, after which he made regular appearances for WCW and All Japan. In Japan, he began teaming with Phil LaFon (then wrestling as Dan Kroffat) as The Can-Am Express. The duo went on to win the All Asia Tag Team Titles 5 times before 1993 and would also go on to win the UWA Tag Team Titles and the ECW Tag Team Titles before the decade was out. They also had a short stint with WWF, but failed to make an impact with the promotion. Furnas retired in 2000, going on to open a child shelter as well as working the family farm. In his later years, Furnas battled Parkinson’s Disease, which would eventually cause his death by heart failure.